get spicy: bake {gingersnaps}

I am not much of a baker, though I would like to be.

One things I will bake during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season (or why not Halloween?) is a batch of gingersnaps. They are small, sugary, spicy, and oh-so-nice! Perfect fall flavors...cinnamon, cloves, cardamom...these spices smell like holidays!

Speaking of spices...have I ever told you my spice rack drawer is my absolute favorite part of my kitchen?

{I am in love with this spicy pull-out!}

But I digress. Back to gingersnaps. They are perfect to bake for a holiday party, with a little dish of delicious creamy {pumpkin dip} on the side (recipe for that coming soon!)

Gingersnaps

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, room temp)

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup more for coating

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup molasses

1 tb balsamic vinegar

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 TB baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp black pepper

(recipe yields 6 doz. snaps)

1. Mix butter and 1 3/4 sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on high

2. Lower speed, add "wet" ingredients: eggs, molasses, vinegar, vanilla

3. Sift together the "dry" ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and spices!

4. Slowly add the flour/spice mixture to the wet mixture and mix on low until well-mixed.

5. Divide dough into thirds. Place each portion on a piece of plastic wrop and form a 12 inch log with each. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.

6. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

7. Slice logs into 1/2 inch thick disks. (Here is where I stray and roll the disks into balls!)

8. Dredge the disks {or, in my case, balls} in remaining half cup of sugar.

9. Bake for 10 minutes on a foil-lined baking sheet.

10. Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

11. Dip in a little {pumpkin dip} and enjoy!

(I promise to link up this sinful creamy recipe soon!)

Hope you're doing something spicy tonight!

;)

Meanwhile, I am headed to the gym. Ate too many cookies!

G

PS: Linking up to these fabulous link parties:

I love a room with an accent {wall!}

Who loves color? Oooh oooh me, I do!

Yeah, I get rather excited about a brightly colored wall. If you don't believe me just check out my very bright dining room!

Unfortunately, many of the rooms in our shotgun-style house are pretty small, so dark colors are definitely out. Unless....

...I do an accent wall!

So that is exactly what I decided to do in our current bedroom. It has the perfect wall for an accent color. There apparently used to be a fireplace there, which I wish longingly was still there; however, when a previous owner did renovations the fireplace was removed and was replaced with new drywall. However, it still juts out -- making it the perfect little accent wall:

So it is really just part of a wall which I thought would be easy to paint over in case of disaster, right? {in my house there are occasionally "paint disasters..."}

And there was a slight disaster. The paint I chose is metallic paint (bronze, Valspar.) Tip: follow the instructions the nice Lowe's paint employee gives you in that handy dandy brochure {that I, um, completely ignored when I first tried to do it.} I was much too impatient and schlupped both layers as fast as I could -- I was so excited!

Then I had to go back to Lowe's and get another can of the top-layer to redo it...and that stuff ain't cheap, folks. In paint terms, at least.

After my second go round I was much more pleased! Here is my new accent wall, all shiny and new!

I added my West Elm wood block ledges, and moved my stone candles from the guest bath to create a simple, modern, organic look.

So here is another look at the before:

{just another cream-colored wall}

And the after:

{shiny, modern, new}

So I didn't exactly go "bright" or "dark"...but I definitely went "unique," and I love it.

Has anyone else played around with metallic paint? This was pretty much a wild-hair design decision -- but I'm glad I tried something new!

Have a blessed Sunday!

G

PS: Linking up to this lovely party...check out other ideas here:

{morning bliss}

I like a lazy Saturday morning.

Sleep in.

Make coffee.

Cook a delicious breakfast.

Nap.

Wake up.

Enjoy the day!

G

r.i.p. camera: {the last shots}

I went camping over the weekend in Kentucky's beautiful Red River Gorge with my husband and our 'doodle. The weather was perfect, and our time together was great: hiking, talking, laughing....

and then my camera broke.

The lens just decided, "Sorry, not popping out anymore!"

I was a little discouraged, but deep-down I was thinking: "Hmmmm...Christmas just might have to come a little early this year. Ya know, considering how good I've been and everything." Right.

:D

So here are some of the last shots my poor, dear, deceased camera mustered:

Rest peacefully in camera heaven, my scratched-up, strange-noise-making, dear little Sony camera.

G

sneak peek: {bedding re-do!}

Can't resist. Have to share something new from my bedroom mini-redo! I changed up my duvet cover...which I know is a small change, but it really brightened up the tiny room we use as our bedroom for the moment.

{duvet before: dark, blah}

{duvet after: light, organic, chic }

Many more changes to follow in this space {new window treatments, accent wall, hardwood flooring?!?} but for now, simple, organic bedding change-up.

{Sweet dreams}

G

PS: Lnking this to this sweet link party:

{i feel pretty, oh so pretty} : my top 5 beauty must-haves

What makes you feel {pretty}?

(And who now has that song stuck in their head?)

The last couple days I have been feeling very blah so I decided to whip out my Top 5 Beauty Must-Haves that make me feel oh-so-pretty and share them with you...

1. Baby oil.

Not trying to be weird here, but I love baby oil. I use it instead of body lotion. Partly because I am lazy, and partly because I am cheap. For $3/month my skin stays glowing and baby soft, and it is easy to just slather it on after a shower, quick rinse, towel dry. Lurrrve my baby oil.

2. High heels.

These are not my fabulous legs or my Louboutins, but even I can go from shlup to sassy just by putting on a pair of 4 inch heels. Sometimes I wear them around the house. With my sweatpants. Just 'cause.

{posh}

3. Bronzer.

I'm no Snookie...but I love to be tan. At least a little tan. So when I am going out and feel a little pale I am instantly energized when I use some mineral bronzer with a touch of glitter. Oh yes, I did, in fact, say glitter.

4. Bright scarves!

This is my go-to accessory to feel lovely. Jeans, t-shirt, scarf. Something about a fun, bright pattern hanging loosely around my neck makes me feel cozy and chic at the same time...and brightens my mood!

{anthropologie}

5. Clear lip gloss.

You know, the really shiny, plumping kind? I don't know why I bother, as it ends up being licked off unconsciously within the first hour, but for that first five minutes my lips look, well, fantastic - and shiny!

{So what are your top 5 beauty must-haves?}

G

at last, my mums!

For the past 5 months the mums I planted last fall in my perennial bed have been growing into the most gigantic mum forest I ever could have dreamed of...

...but have taken literally forever to bloom!

However, I am happy to say {mainly because this is the first time I have had mums that have re-bloomed!} that the yellow have arrived, more bright and gorgeous than I could have imagined:

I took these photographs today, and I have no idea why the background is coming out black - but I love the drama it adds!

Still waiting on the purple and orange...

come on ladies!

:o)

G